Accounting, Graduate Diploma

General information

The Graduate Diploma in Accounting is a professional program accredited by the Chartered Professional Accountants (CPA) of Ontario. The program emphasizes integration, problem solving, decision making and other CPA-enabling competencies to prepare prospective CPAs for the completion of the Professional Education Program (PEP) and Common Final Examination (CFE), and for their careers. The hybrid learning model provides significant face-to-face time in small classes with highly qualified instructors.

Upon successful completion of the Graduate Diploma in Accounting, students will receive credit for the first four modules of CPA Canada’s PEP, including Core 1, Core 2 and all four elective modules (assurance, finance, performance management and tax) and be eligible to enter the PEP at the Capstone 1 module. Students will be able to write the CFE within 12 months of completing the Graduate Diploma in Accounting, saving time in achieving their CPAs.

A current list of graduate faculty is available on the Faculty of Business and Information Technology’s website.

Admission requirements

In addition to the general admission requirements for graduate studies , Graduate Diploma in Accounting applicants must meet the following program-specific requirements:

• Cumulative B+ average (GPA: 3.3 on a 4.3 scale or 77 to 79 per cent) or higher in courses required for admission to the CPA PEP.
• Grade of C (60 per cent) or higher in courses required for admission to the CPA PEP.
• Grade of D (50 per cent) or higher in non-core courses required for admission to the CPA PEP.
• Students must successfully complete all courses specified for the university’s Bachelor of Commerce Accounting Major. Graduates of other Canadian universities are encouraged to apply if they have completed a business degree with a concentration in accounting and substantially equivalent coverage as applicants from the university to the program.

For a list of required courses, please see the CPA section of the Accounting program in the university’s Undergraduate Academic Calendar or the CPA Ontario website.

Part-time studies

The Graduate Diploma in Accounting is a full-time program; part-time enrolment is not permitted.

Graduate diploma requirements

Students are required to complete five courses, including a research component. A minimum passing grade of B-minus is required for each course and all courses must be completed in the Spring/Summer term. A blended learning approach may be used in some courses.

Course listing

• BUSI 5120G - Professional Accounting
• BUSI 5150G - Advanced Finance
• BUSI 5160G - Performance Management
• BUSI 5170G - Advanced Auditing
• BUSI 5190G - Critical Thinking, Integration and Analysis

Program learning outcomes

The following outcomes outline the knowledge and skills students will have achieved upon completion of the program.